There could be chaos on the tube next week, with two planned strikes across the network.
Between Tuesday 3 August and Friday 6 August, all tube lines will run a significantly reduced service at some times, and will not run at all at others, as RMT union drivers go on strike.
The first strike starts at noon on Tuesday 3 August and runs until 11:59pm on Wednesday 4 August — the second strike starts at noon on Thursday 5 August and runs until 11:59pm on Friday 6 August.
TfL is advising passengers to complete their journeys by 1pm on Tuesday 3 August, and again by 1pm on Thursday 5 August — as well as staying up to date by visiting this page.
Why's this happening? It's all about Night Tube drivers. TfL says it's offering Night Tube drivers the opportunity to join the full-time driver pool on a permanent basis, with Night Tube duties spread across all drivers. It claims, "The changes to how we roster our drivers to continue to provide a regular tube service and create more flexibility for our staff have not resulted in any job losses."
But the RMT union says TfL is essentially scrapping the role of dedicated Night Tube drivers, and the higher pay grade that goes with it. It claims the move will "threaten the loss of 200 jobs, and destroy the work life balance of 3,000 tube drivers."
Two more tube strikes are currently planned for later in August for the same reason — on Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 August, and on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 August.
In the past, TfL and RMT have sometimes come to an 11th-hour agreement to halt strikes. Let's hope that happens here.
